Barnet Copthall Swimming Club gained 41 champions at the Middlesex County Swimming Championships. The championships cover all events, from 1500m distance races to 50m sprints.

Barnet Copthall ended the championship with 41 county champions and gold medallists, as well as a further 21 runners up and 29 bronze medallists.

Several swimmers were extremely successful winning in more than one event: Freddie Cornwell (12) won 16 county titles which included events in every stroke and every distance; Jo-Anne Zambelli (16) won six county titles including 400m freestyle and 400m individual medley (IM) as well as a further silver medal; Joe Zlotnick (11) won four county titles including 200m butterfly and 400m IM, as well as three silvers and a bronze medal; Georgia Hare (10) won four county titles including 200m backstroke and 400m freestyle as well as three bronze medals; Matthew Bayliss (15) was county champion over 200m and 100m IM, while Charlie Boldison (18) won the 50m backstroke and butterfly, and a silver in the 50m freestyle.

Other county champions were Anum Bandey, Emily Bell, Karis Fuller, George Kapanadze, Konstatin Kapanadze, Jamie Richter and Madeleine Tichborne.

Head coach Rhys Gormley praised his swimmers.

“Overall, 28 swimmers shared more than 90 medals, while many of our other youngsters reached finals. However, this is only part of the story as some of our other young swimmers competed for the first time away from their home pool and on the county stage. All our swimmers competed hard and made real improvements which can only herald future success for the club.”

The British Swimming Championships in Manchester coincided with the county championships. Three Barnet Copthall swimmers competed: Charlie Boldison (50m, 100m and 200m backstroke); Oliver Keegan (200m butterfly) and Madeleine Tichborne (1500m freestyle).

The greatest success was enjoyed by Boldison who reached the semi-finals in both the 100 and 200m backstroke, finishing 10th and 12th respectively. However, his greatest achievement was in the 50m backstroke, finishing fifth in the country, behind Liam Tancock who is the current world champion.